Television to DVD: the big switch

AMANDA POPOVITCH STAFF WRITER AVP722@CABRINI EDU

Television shows on DVD have been rushing the shelves of stores all over, and they have quickly become the latest revolution in entertainment media. The variety of television shows on DVD expands daily, and increasingly, shows are making the transition from television screen to DVD faster than ever Already some viewers have begun to forgo watching weekly shows in favor of waiting for television shows to come out on DVD so they can watch entire blocks of episodes, or even seasons, in one sitting. What does this all mean for primetime television?

A case in point for this new phenomenon is the recent hit show “Grey’s Anatomy.” The first season of the show, made up of only nine episodes since it began midway through the normal television season, was recently released on DVD Feb. 14, 2006. This is only a scant nine months after the airing of the last episode of the first season in May of 2005. This is top-notch turn around time for only half a season. Another case in point that puts even “Grey’s Anatomy” to shame is the show “24.” The most recent season of the show was released on DVD in December of 2005, clocking in at seven months after the airing of the last episode of that season. And the first season of “24” was released in September of 2002, a miniscule

Concert Beats

Friday, Feb. 24 Winterfresh SnoCone Tour featuring Seether with shinedown, Flyleaf and Halestorm at 7:20 p.m. at The Electric Factory

The Fray with The Cary Brothers and The Damnwells at 9:00 p.m. at The Theatre of Living Arts

Phil Lesh & Friends at 8:00 p.m. at Tower Theater

Saturday, Feb. 25 Silverstein with Spitalfield, Stretch Armstrong and The Sleeping at 2:30 p.m. at The Theatre of Living Arts

The Dan Band at 10:00 p.m. at The Theatre of Living Arts

Phil Lesh & Friends at 8:00 p.m. at Tower theater

Sunday, Feb. 26

Phil Lesh & Friends at 8:00 p.m. at Tower Theater

Monday, Feb. 27

Dave Chappelle’s Block party featuring live music, dj, and comedy with Talib Kweli and Erykah Badu at 7:00 p.m. at Tower Theater

KRT four months after the airing of the last episode of the first season in May of that year.

The other half of the television on DVD craze is the emergence of classic and cult television shows on DVD. Shows once banished to the 3 a.m. rerun schedule are now available for the viewer’s pleasure at a more reasonable hour through the miracle of DVDs. Classics such as

“The Lucy Show,” “MASH,” “The Simpsons,” “ALF” and a recent fan favorite, “Seinfeld,” have all been packaged into convenient sets that allow the viewer to purchase a select season and easily watch a favorite episode whenever they please, without the hassle of locating the rerun on television.

Also profiting from this trend are cult shows, such as the sci-fi hits “Star Trek” and “The XFiles,” whose eternally devoted fans are more than willing to fork over big bucks for their favorite shows. And they are worth big bucks. Aseason of “The X-Files” runs anywhere between $90 to $100, while the first season of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” will set you back $56.99 at your local Best Buy.

This new trend in television shows could mean major changes in the primetime television world and certainly a new money-maker for television companies.

Between newer shows being transitioned to DVD faster and older shows battling to be rereleased on DVD, the television world will be revolutionized. Viewers may also become less worried about watching during primetime hours if they know a show will be released on DVD shortly after. And in our fastpaced lives this could, and probably does, happen often, meaning primetime television and syndicated dramas may be battling for viewers in the ratings. All this certainly means big changes for the television world.

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Tuesday, Feb. 28 No Use For A Name with The Suicide Machines and I am the Avalanche at 8:00 p.m. at Tower Theater

Wednesday, March 1

Ta’Mar with Special Guest Prince at 11:59 p.m at The Electric Factory

Thursday, March 2

The Saw Doctors at 9:00 p.m. at The Theatre of Living Arts